Feb. 3, 1959, "The Day the Music Died:" 50 Years later.

FSMX cockpit view of the tragic crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Richie Vallens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson and the young pilot Roger Peterson. The plane took off after midnight from Mason City Airport, Iowa for a 2 hour flight to Fargo, North Dakota for their next performance in Moorhead, MN. It made a left hand turn to head Northwest and climbed to an altitude of about 800 feet. It then descended and crashed while in a right hand turn about 5 miles north of the airport. The weather was deteriorating. Ceiling and visibility were lowering, snow had started to fall, and gusty winds were reported. The 21 year old pilot was reported to have limited experience with instrument flying. It was completely dark at the time of the accident, but this simulation is set for a little earlier at dusk so that visual references can be seen. A tragic crash of an American Airlines Lockheed Electra the same day into the East River near LaGuardia airport, New York, pretty much eclipsed the news of the Buddy Holly tragedy. Of the 73 souls on board that plane, only 8 survived. We will never know what other great songs may have been created by these outstanding and talented musicians, but the songs they gave us did not die. They live on in our hearts and minds. Now, 50 years later, generations since have danced and romanced to their great tunes: Donna, Chantilly Lace, Peggy Sue, Running Bear, La Bamba and others. Thank you for your songs. May you all rest in peace.